STATE POLICY NETWORK
State Solutions. National Impact.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Free markets give men and women from all backgrounds and walks of life equal opportunity to gain quality education, create and fill jobs, access healthcare, and serve their communities. To secure these opportunities, we need organizations and leaders in every state who are close to the problems they aim to solve. They must hold government accountable and use their local knowledge to inspire the change their communities need. We see this happen every day through the work of our 50-state Network of think tanks dedicated to advancing policies that preserve individual liberty and free enterprise. State Policy Network exists to ensure that there is a thriving freedom movement in every state helping Americans live freer, more prosperous lives. Together, we create change from the ground up that reverberates throughout the country.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Executive Leadership Program
SPN’s Executive Leadership Program challenges, inspires, and empowers state think tank leaders to build results-oriented organizations that champion actionable policy solutions and anchor durable freedom movements in their states.
Programs include:
Strategic Planning and Advising
Executive Training and Advising
Executive Peer Network
Professional Development
Training
SPN’s team of experienced staff provides practical advice, support and training in each of the nonprofit core capabilities: board development, strategic planning, fundraising, communications and messaging, issue campaign development, policy and operations.
SPN Annual Meeting
State Policy Network’s Annual Meeting is the premier gathering of organizations and people dedicated to promoting state policy solutions that strengthen communities and improve the lives of Americans.
Each year, 1,300 attendees representing state-based and state focused organizations from all 50 states gather to be inspired, discover and develop new strategies to replace failed government policies, and network. State Policy Network hosts this meeting to strengthen the state-focused network.
Policy Working Groups
State Policy Network hosts several policy working groups so that state think tanks can encourage and challenge each other, exchange best practices, and refine ideas and strategies that will lead to an America where personal freedom, innovation, opportunity, and a peaceful society help all Americans flourish.
SPN’s policy working groups connect independent state and national think tank leaders who come together to accomplish shared policy objectives. These leaders collaborate to develop specific policy solutions that can solve the problems facing our communities and can be tailored to each states’ unique needs.
Where we work
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
State Policy Network is committed to restoring the necessary balance of power between Washington, DC, and the states so that through local collaboration, these policy solution centers can solve some of the biggest problems facing our country today. As a result, Americans will have the freedom to live their lives as they choose without the burden of government overreach.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
To accomplish our mission, State Policy Network supports the growth of a 50-state Network by:
• Partnering with leaders in our Network to secure meaningful state policy reforms that have national impact.
• Investing in the long-term sustainability of state leaders and organizations.
• Connecting and convening state leaders to learn best practices and collaborate on multi-state opportunities.
• Inspiring innovation through our events, contests, grant programs, and awards.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
SPN’s programs are designed to create long-term partnerships with organizations and work alongside them to build strong, lasting institutions that are positioned to advance significant policy reforms that spread across the country.
Leadership Development: Our leadership development program provides essential training, coaching, and targeted grants so organizations can build the necessary capabilities to achieve their goals. One of the best ways to learn is through the experiences of others. We offer over a dozen peer groups so that leaders from across the country can come together and learn best practices from one another and identify cross-state opportunities.
Communications: We know that to make lasting change, we need more than the best policy ideas. We need to win hearts and minds with powerful stories that show the impact free-market policies have on everyday people. And luckily, there is no shortage of those in the network. Our communications amplify and celebrate the impact of the network to key audiences through strategies such as media engagement, online communities, conducting polling and messaging research, and creative storytelling.
Events: SPN’s Annual Meeting is the premier gathering of freedom fighters in the country. Over 1,300 people attend from over 500 organizations and all 50 states to be inspired, connect, and sharpen strategies for the coming year.
Policy Advancement: SPN working groups bring leaders together from across the country, creating an environment where they can collaborate and test strategies, fill critical needs identified by the group, and accelerate the best ideas for multistate impact.
Strategic Development: SPN partners with state think tanks to help them craft their own strategic plans that focus their priorities, align their staff, and help them adapt in a rapidly changing environment.
Startup/Start Over Program: SPN partners with vetted leaders in new and emerging think tanks who want to make a difference in their states. SPN helps these new organizations through strategic planning, targeted investments, connections to the Network, and key resources. SPN’s start-over program responds to organizations with new leaders that are trying to improve the trajectory of active state think tanks.
LaunchPad: There is no shortage of bold ideas from think tank leaders. The challenge is getting them off of the ground at the speed in which we need them. Our newest program is designed to accelerate the launch of promising new initiatives by partnering with donors, issue experts, and successful entrepreneurs to refine the best ideas and create actionable plans to make them a reality.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
For 30 years, State Policy Network has built a national infrastructure for freedom that has made significant policy advancements to improve American lives. We have 63 think tanks in all 50 states and over 90 national associate partners. Each year, this Network brings about more opportunities for Americans to find meaningful work, choose the best education for their children, access quality healthcare, and more opportunity for Americans to achieve their dreams.
Our strategy endures. We will continue to provide leadership training so that free-market think tanks have a lasting, powerful presence in every state. We will bring people together to advance policy reforms that limit government and break down barriers to opportunity. We will invest in new ventures that will solve seemingly impossible problems. And we will fight for state power, as our Founders intended, to keep government in check for generations to come.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
STATE POLICY NETWORK
Board of directorsas of 06/28/2024
Carl Helstrom
The JM Foundation
Tracie J Sharp
State Policy Network
Stanford Swim
Bill of Rights Institute
Thomas Willcox
The Roe Foundation
Lawson Bader
DonorsTrust
John Hood
John William Pope Foundation
Adam Meyerson
Stand Together
Bridgett Wagner
Heritage Foundation
Carrie Tynan
Coors Foundation
George Coates
Commonwealth Foundation
Nicole Hoplin
Hoplin-Jackson Charitable Advisors